Bhubaneswar: After almost a year-long break due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Odisha film industry moved back on track in 2021. The shooting of many Odia movies took off amid COVID protocols while new ventures were announced. Some movies, which were completed but put on hold for the pandemic, were released in theatres. The industry also made foray into OTT platform where some movies were released as uncertainty hanged over opening of theatres.
Odisha Bytes bring to you some of the Ollywood films that were released in 2021:
Chakhyubandhan
‘Chakhyubandhan’ was released in theatres on on September 10, 2021. Produced under the banner of Aneesh Entertainment, the film is directed by Rajendra Mohanta. Tapan Kumar Das is the producer.
A romantic film with elements of suspense, ‘Chakhyubandhan’ features Bhoomika Dash, Rajesh, Ishani and Pradeep in prominent roles. The script and dialogues have been written by Dillip Lumar Choudhary.
Abhijit Majundar is the music director, while Dr Nirmal Nayak has written the lyrics. Biswajit Mohapatra and Sohini Mishra have rendered their voices to the songs. Dillip Balabantray is the executive producer of the movie.
Bijayinee
Based on women empowerment, ‘Bijayinee-Bijay Bhava’ was released on November 12.
Ollywood star Varsha Priyadarshini has penned the script of film ‘Bijayinee’. Speaking on her new venture, ‘Bijayinee-Bijay Bhava’, Varsha said it’s a woman centric movie that attempts to depict the fight of an ordinary woman against exploitation of the fair sex.
‘Bijayinee’ shows how the protagonist, a small town girl Bijayinee, faces obstacles while trying to do social service and finally comes over it. Varsha has played the lead role in ‘Bijayinee’.
Other star casts of the movie include Devasis Patra, Bikram Mohanty, Pragyan, Sankar, Pupy Santuka, Mama, Trupti Sinha, Saroj Das, Dhira Mallick, Sobha Rout, and Puspa.
Sudhakar Vasanth has donned the director’s hat, while Sangita Kandoi and Vijay Kandoi are the producers. Bijay Malha has written the dialogues of the movie.
Tume Mo Sankha Tume Mo Sindura
‘Tu Mo Sankha Tume Mo Sindura’, a romantic drama, was released in 22 cinema halls across Odisha on April 1.
Lead actor Avisekh Rath is paired against Ankita and Mahima in the film. Shakti Barala also essayed a pivotal role in this Ranjit Barik directorial.
The movie has been produced by Badrinath Pattnaik under the banner of Banaswara Television Pvt Ltd.
Cuttack Weds Sambalpur
‘Cuttack Weds Sambalpur’, based on romance of two love birds belonging to two culturally different regions of Odisha, was released in Odisha theatres on November 19.
“The response from public towards the ‘Cuttack Weds Sambalpur’ was very good. We all are very satisfied with making a movie on a story that has not been explored so far in Ollywood,” said Sambeet Acharya, who plays the lead male role opposite debutant Susmita Pradhan.
Produced under the banner of ‘RR Events and Cine Production’, the movie is Bapi David’s debut directorial venture. Ramesh Barik and K Tamanna are the producers while the story and dialogues have been penned by Jatindra Pradhan and Jitendra Seth respectively.
Besides Sambeet and Susmita, the other casts of the movie include Kuna Tripathy, Guddu, Pintu Nanda, Pradip Debta, Raja and Maha Prasad Kar.
The movie has four songs composed by Baidyanath Das and Kamalesh Chakrabarty.
Tandav
Mahadev Film Home Production’s ‘Tandav’ was released on Maha Shivratri (March 11).
Starring Debashis Pati, Anisha Sharma and Chandrani Das, the film has been directed by Prithvi Raj Pattnaik and produced by Sandeep Sahoo while the DOP is by Rabindra Behera and Agniraj Kishore has given the music. The dialogues are by Red Saga and background score by Nabs and Saroj.
Manoj Mishra was seen playing an antagonist opposite Dev (Debashis character in the film). The action packed entertainer also features Mihir Das and Pushpa Panda in important roles.
Sahid Raghu Sardar
Patriotic biopic on Odia martyr ‘Sahid Raghu Sardar’ was released in theatres on August 16.
It is based on the struggles of young freedom fighter Raghu Pattnaik against the British. Actor Debashis Patra and actress Kabya Kiran are the leads in this Rajeeb Mohanty directorial.
The other star casts include Pintu Nanda, Akhaya Bastia, Jina, Rudra, Twinkle and Santosh. Biswanath Patnaik has produced the movie and Dr Rajani Ranjan has written the dialogues.
Chumki My Darling
‘Chumki My Darling’ was released on Taranga TV on March 14. Ollywood hero Sambeet Acharya and new actress Piali Dash featured the lead characters in the movie.
Directed by Sudhansu Mohan Sahu, the film also stars noted actress Mahasweta Ray in a pivotal role.
Produced under the banner Tarang Cine Productions and Mangala Life Colors Pvt Ltd, ‘Chumki My Darling’ also features Ankit Kumar, Budhaditya Mohanty, Pushpa Panda and Pradyumna Lenka.
Abhijit Majumdar has scored the music in the movie and Nirmal Nayak penned the songs.
Oyee Guitar
Srihaan Cinecreations’ ‘Oyee Guitar’ was released in Odisha on April 14.
The story of the Odia movie is based on the concept of “behind every successful man, there is a woman”.
Aman and Ahana played the lead roles in the movie. The other star cast includes Debu Patnaik, Guddu, Namita Das, RJ Guddi, Ranu Padhi, Jeevan Panda and Jay Prakash.
B Chandrapriya Subudhi has made his debut as a producer with the movie. Appu Kanungo is the director and music composer. Kanungo has also written the dialogues.
Jungle
Ollywood movie ‘Jungle’ was released in the theatres on April 9.
The movie centres around the lead character played by Ahana Barala. Ahana, who has acted in two movies, was seen in a different role in this movie. Her natural acting and storyline is the USP of the movie.
Earlier, she was seen in Odia movies ‘Bhairav’ and ‘Blackmail’. Suraj plays the hero in ‘Jungle’.
Produced under the banner of Krishna Films, the movie has been directed by T Ganesh, who has also written the story of the film.
Dialogues are by Nirmala Panda and music has been composed by S Chandrakanta while Bapi Sahu and Saroj Jena have choreographed the dance.
